Chula Vista's assistant police chief died Friday evening after battling cancer, the Chula Vista Police Department announced.
"It is with tremendous sorrow that Chief Roxana Kennedy announces the loss of her second in command and close friend, Assistant Chief Phil Collum. He passed away yesterday evening after his short battle with a rare form of cancer," the department said in a news release on Saturday.
Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Collum moved to San Diego as a toddler. He left briefly to attend college in Santa Cruz, where he began his law enforcement career.
Collum joined the CVPD in 1994. During his 29 years in the department, he served as its first African American police lieutenant, captain and assistant chief. He was Chief Kennedy's partner for more than two decade, according to Chula Vista Police Foundation spokesperson Ralph Cerulli.
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"All I can say is he's going to be missed and it's going to hurt for a little while," Cerulli said. "From building bridges with the community to his own offices for rolling out new initiatives, community engagement -- that was Phil's passion."
During his passing, he was surrounded by family, friends and his husband, William Lopez.
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A memorial service was held in Collum's honor at Eastlake Church on Saturday, April 20.
